Transportation Cabinet
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announces winners of 2010 Adopt-a-Highway Poster Contest

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announces winners of 2010 Adopt-a-Highway Poster Contest
Nearly 2,000 students enter annual contest

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2010) – Students from Randall K. Cooper High School in Boone County, Williamstown Independent Schools in Grant County, Whitney Young Elementary in Louisville and Gamaliel Elementary in Monroe County have taken first place in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s 2010 Adopt-a-Highway poster contest.

“The purpose of the contest is to increase environmental awareness among children,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock. “We hope to educate our young people about the damaging effects of litter, and to change attitudes and behaviors about littering.”

The first-place winner in each of four categories receives a $100 savings bond, while second-, and third-place winners each receive a $50 savings bond. All the winners receive framed prints of their posters. Awards will be presented during a luncheon ceremony Friday, Dec. 17, at the Executive Mansion in Frankfort. 

The winners are:
6-8 age category
First Place          Devan Brooks                 Gamaliel Elementary (Monroe County)
Second Place     Kailey McMurtry              Gamaliel Elementary
Third Place         Morgan Leigh Lewis        Ponderosa Elementary (Boyd County)

9-11 age category
First Place            Jennifer Romero-Acosta  Whitney Young Elementary (Jefferson County)
Second Place       Dakayla Rose High          Whitney Young Elementary
Third Place           John Roland Smith           Ben Johnson Elementary (Breckinridge County)

12-14 age category
First Place           Jessica Dunham               Randall K. Cooper High School (Boone County)
Second Place      Alex Donalson                   Verity Middle School (Boyd County)
Third Place          Dalton Allen                       Monroe County Middle School

15-17 age group
First Place            Appy Webster                   Williamstown Independent Schools (Grant County)
Second Place       Kayla Gaddis                      North Bullitt High School (Bullitt County)
Third Place           Anna Ramirez                    Williamstown Independent Schools

The Transportation Cabinet received 1,986 Adopt-a-Highway poster contest entries from students throughout the Commonwealth.  Calendars featuring the winners’ posters will be provided to all the winners and their classrooms.

This year’s contest judges were Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Joe Meyer, Georgetown College art galleries director Laura Stewart, Kentucky State University professor Reba Rye, Transportation Public Affairs Executive Director Chuck Wolfe, and Miranda Thacker, statewide coordinator.  Judges did not know the identities of the artists or their schools.

“With so many excellent posters this year and a tremendous amount of entries submitted, it was really hard to judge,” said Meyer.  “We appreciate all the hard work and effort the students put into their posters.  Every entry is a winner.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet urges students and teachers to get an early start on the 2011 poster contest. The cabinet will begin accepting entries on March 1, 2011. The entries will close on Sept. 30, 2011.

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